What's Not: Only provides protection from superficial moisture and dust/debris. Outer silicone skin may be prone to stretching.

Reviewed by Tom Slayton

The Drop Tech Case by Gumdrop is a daily use case designed to protect your iPhone from damage due to everyday foibles. While it does not provide protection from submersion or outdoor use in wet environments, it is accessible enough to be used everyday, which is most likely a reasonable exchange for most people.

Size and Fit

Gumdrop's Drop Tech line of cases consist of a rigid inner skeleton and a thick silicone outer layer. While this case will very nearly double the thickness of your device, it will add very little to its width and length. The Drop Tech fits perfectly, and gives full access to all buttons, ports, and switches.

Features and Quality

The Drop Tech case has a great feel to it. The silicone is thick and knobby like the tread of a tire, and has a high enough coefficient of friction to be propped on its side nearly anywhere. If you have kids, you know why this is important. Speaking of kids, if you find yourself handing your device to them from time to time, you're going to be glad to have the drop protection provided by this case. I've witnessed my phone going to ground at the marauding hands of my lovable hooligans on more than one occasion, and this is the case I wish I had. A silicone skin by itself will only protect from small drops, however, and is prone to stretching over time. Fortunately, the engineers at Gumdrop have also included a rigid polycarbonate inner skeleton, which not only protects the precious edges and corners from big drops, but also holds the silicone skin firmly in place. I may revisit this review in the months to come if this doesn't hold up, though. I am generally distrustful of silicone in the long term but I'm willing to give this one a field test before I pass judgment. Lastly, for those of you who like screen protectors, one is built into the Drop Tech. Personally, I always end up popping them out within a few days, but to each his own.

Style

The Drop Tech Case for the iPhone is available in black, black/red, army green, blue/pink, orange/blue, purple/pink, and yellow/blue. It's distinctive tire tread texture looks masculine and aggressive in black and black/red, yet somehow still works for the more whimsical color combinations. There is definitely something for almost everybody here.

Summary

The Drop Tech Case for iPhone 5 provides a balanced combination of protection and usability. While it doesn't provide any real protection from water, it balances this by retaining true everyday functionality. Unless you're a lifeguard or a commercial fisherman, the basic moisture protection provided by the silicone flaps will likely be all you'll ever need.